This autumn in New York, Australia will be contesting for one of the elected seats on the U.N. Security Council. Some domestic critics ask why bother with the United Nations? Some international critics ask why waste a vote on Australia? Both are wrong.
The U.N. matters, and having Australia on the Security Council should matter to the world. The U.N. is both an idea, and an actual organization with structures, procedures and personnel.
As an idea, the U.N. is the world's only body to house the divided fragments of humanity. It symbolizes a world in which those condemned to die in fear are given the chance to live with hope again, want gives way to dignity, and apprehensions are turned into aspirations. This symbolism finds expression in the three overarching normative mandates of security, development and human rights.